The largest Western European nation, France borders the Bay of Biscay, the English Channel, Belgium, Spain and the Mediterranean Sea. With its capital in Paris, France is comprised of 22 regions: Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes.
France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state throughout its history. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of the euro in January 2002. At present, France is at the forefront of European states seeking to exploit the momentum of the European Union to advance the creation of a more unified and capable European defense and security apparatus, the Eurocorps, a united European armed forces.
France's Head of Government is the President; its Head of State is the Prime Minister. Administration is the jurisdiction of the bicameral Parliament composed of the Senat and Assemblee Nationale.
